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Arts Council England and BBC Academy launch programme to build digital capacity for the arts

Date: 9 February 2011

Area:
National

Mark Thompson, Director-General, BBC and Alan Davey, Chief Executive, Arts Council England are among the key speakers at the launch of Arts Council England and BBC Academy's Building digital capacity for the arts programme.

Details of the programme are being discussed at the launch on 10 March, at which Alan Davey and Mark Thompson are addressing an invited audience of influential cultural figures. You download Alan's speech in full using the link on the right. It is hoped the event will inspire arts leaders to encourage others in their sector to get involved and harness their digital potential. Filmed content of the launch will be made available on our website from 14 March.

The Building digital capacity for the arts programme, announced in September 2010, will support the development of the arts sector's media production skills by bringing together the BBC Academy's media and digital experience with the Arts Council's extensive knowledge of the arts sector.

Alan Davey, Chief Executive, Arts Council England said: 'Together, the Arts Council and the BBC can equip more arts organisations with the skills necessary to harness the potential of digital technology and bring about a new era of public engagement in the arts.

'We believe this partnership will be a launch pad for digital innovation in our world class arts, generating ideas that our new lottery funded initiatives can turn into a reality.'

Mark Thompson, Director-General, BBC said: 'Britain produces some of the best art in the world and we want it to reach new and bigger audiences. The BBC is delighted to be involved - through the Academy - in helping to build the necessary digital skills within arts organisations.'

The initial programme will run from March 2011-August 2012 and will consist of a launch event, practical seminars, a BBC online guide to commissioning, facilitated master classes and an online resource of filmed and streamed content.